1 Chronicles 17:3

And it came to pass the same night, that the word of God came to Nathan, saying,

And it came to pass the same night {H3915}, that the word {H1697} of God {H430} came to Nathan {H5416}, saying {H559},

But that same night the word of God came to Natan:

But that night the word of God came to Nathan, saying,

And it came to pass the same night, that the word of God came to Nathan, saying,

1 Chronicles 17:3 records a pivotal moment in King David's reign, marking a divine intervention that reshapes his intentions regarding the building of God's house.

Context

This verse follows King David's expressed desire to build a permanent temple for the Ark of the Covenant, a noble intention that the prophet Nathan initially affirmed. However, it was "the same night" that God directly spoke to Nathan, correcting his human judgment and revealing a different divine plan. This immediate communication highlights the urgency and importance of God's message, ensuring His will, not human will, would prevail in such a significant matter.

Key Themes

  • Divine Revelation: The phrase "the word of God came to Nathan" underscores that this message was not a human deduction or a prophetic hunch, but a direct, authoritative revelation from God Himself. It emphasizes God's active involvement in the affairs of His people and His direct communication with His chosen messengers.
  • God's Sovereignty Over Human Plans: Even David's commendable desire to honor God with a temple was subject to God's ultimate design. This verse sets the stage for God to reveal the Davidic Covenant, promising a lasting dynasty through David's lineage, and that it would be David's son, Solomon, who would build the temple, not David himself. This demonstrates that God's timing and method are perfect, even when they differ from our best-laid plans.
  • Prophetic Authority and Humility: Nathan, despite being a respected prophet and initially approving David's plan, humbly receives and delivers God's corrected message. This illustrates the true nature of prophecy: speaking God's words, not one's own.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew phrase translated "the word of God" is dvar Yahweh (דְּבַר יְהוָה). This strong phrase signifies a direct, unmediated communication from the Lord (Yahweh), carrying absolute authority and truth. It distinguishes God's pronouncements from human thoughts or opinions, even those of a prophet.

Related Scriptures

For the complete divine message delivered to David, see 1 Chronicles 17:4-14. A parallel account of this significant event and the establishment of the Davidic Covenant is also found in 2 Samuel 7:4-17.

Practical Application

This verse reminds believers today that while our intentions may be good, it is crucial to seek and submit to God's specific will and timing. God's plans are always superior, and He often uses His Word and trusted spiritual guides to communicate them. It encourages us to pray for clarity and to remain open to God redirecting our efforts, trusting that His ultimate design for our lives and His kingdom is perfect and brings greater glory to Him.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 2 Kings 20:1

    ¶ In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.

  • 2 Kings 20:5

    Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD.

  • Numbers 12:6

    And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, [I] the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, [and] will speak unto him in a dream.

  • Amos 3:7

    Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

  • Isaiah 30:21

    And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This [is] the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.
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